Month: September 2020

  • Paying Taxes – Religion and Politics

    Paying Taxes – Religion and Politics

    So, if you wonder why somebody seen to be financially well off, may show basically no income tax when you’re able to get a glimpse of their IRS documentation, you can be sure the reasons may be many. And no, they’re not by any means all indicative of “bad action.”

  • Presidential Qualifications – Religion and Politics

    Presidential Qualifications – Religion and Politics

    So keep in mind cognitive decline that will affect the person’s ability to sit in the Office of the President of the United States, is one of many possible qualification failures that may mean they never should be allowed to ascend to that office.

  • Negative Rights – Religion and Politics

    Negative Rights – Religion and Politics

    So negative rights speak about things you possess, but more importantly, they’re things others cannot take away. This is the intent of that form.

  • On the Wane – Religion and Politics

    On the Wane – Religion and Politics

    It may seem to you, that we as a country, have not gone massively overboard in our response to COVID-19, when we do things like, arrest people for refusing to wear masks outdoors, who’re likely more than six feet away from others. From my vantage point though, I certainly don’t see that kind of reaction as reasonable. In fact, I don’t see far more tame responses as all that sensible either.

  • On Violence – Religion and Politics

    On Violence – Religion and Politics

    So, if you think violence should be a thing with which you deal on a regular basis, allow me to say, I’m not on board with that idea. Is it something with which one must periodically deal? Certainly! Is it ever desirable? Not in any circumstance I can imagine. That imparted, though I count myself a pacifist, don’t expect to not meet resistance on my part, most particularly if you try to harm innocents.

  • Beating the System – Religion and Politics

    Beating the System – Religion and Politics

    I know it seems cool or good to find a way to beat the system. I get there’re times when you may be able to accomplish good things doing so. All I ask is, please keep such activities to times of need where possible. One never knows who might suffer the consequences otherwise.

  • Chomsky Review Chapter 2 – Religion and Politics

    Chomsky Review Chapter 2 – Religion and Politics

    So, the second chapter of Dr Noam Chomsky’s tome, “Understanding Power, The Indispensable Chomsky” is somewhat a mixed bag. One of my concerns when undertaking the commission to discuss and summarize this work, was made real in this chapter. To wit, trying to cover far too much in far too little space.

  • Not Backing Down – Religion and Politics

    Not Backing Down – Religion and Politics

    Even though I want to be clear, that unwarranted death of anyone by anyone is largely counted unacceptable, I need for folks to understand, why I’m writing the piece I currently am. I’m not doing it in order to say, “I told you so.” Why am I writing it? Because years of experience have made certain things clear to me, I want others to realize. One such thing is this. Protracted unrest even for valid reasons, will cause the public at large to become weary. If it’s not for good cause or if it’s violent in nature, this process will likely be faster, and the resultant backlash, more rapid, and harsher.

  • Religion and Politics – Religion and Politics

    Religion and Politics – Religion and Politics

    You may have come to the conclusion that beliefs based on faith have no place in the public square. You should be aware that nowhere is such an idea ensconced in the founding documents of the United States. In fact, the Founders seemed to be quite intent on making decisions on that basis.

  • Government at the Lowest Level – Religion and Politics

    Government at the Lowest Level – Religion and Politics

    So you may think (if you’re progressive in what you believe), that a large, robust federal government is a desirable thing. I’m quite sure you’ll find those on the conservative side have no such perspective. This dichotomy means that—unless we can all learn civility—there will continue to be name-calling and saber rattling on both sides of the aisle for the foreseeable future.